The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-12-29
Random Thoughts.

twas said OF one OF the great artists,
who drew a picture of farm-scene,
in which appeared a number of pigs
in the attitude of eating from
trough. and the natural appearance Of
which picture had been widely COM
mented upon, that plain. simple
minded fellow came along one day
and destroyed the hope of the artist.
and started an endless criticism of the
picture by calling attention to the fact
that nobody ever saw number Of
pigs eating from trough, that there
were not one or more with feet in the
trough" So true was this homely
expression that the picture deprecated
in value, even in the estimation Of the
artist himself.
This illustration may be applied to
the great picture of human life. Nor
alists delight to paint life as a great
field in which grow and develop the
noblest thought and the loftiest ambi-
tion; in which Gods creatures walk
up to the gilded and glistening trough
Of truth and knowledge, and drink, in
the sweetest harmony and greatest
contentment 1t is an unpleasant
thing to spoil the well-drawn picture
by rough, though homely, compari-
sons and, criticisms. But the disin-
terested observer will readily note that
there are some hogs in that field, too.
There are those who, filled with a
commendable ambition and warm
sympathy for their fellow-men and
fellow-women, go forward honestly,
earnestly, and righteously, seeking
only the success which is due to noble
and unseIfsh effort. Such lives as
these command the deep and abiding
respect Of mankind. How beautiful
! A man filling out the measure of an
intelligent conception of human char
acter, refined and beautifed by Chris
tian graces! What a grand inspira-
ton! What wealth of lofty aspira-
tions spring from a contemplation OF
such picture! Calmly, unselishly
righteously, that life moves about the
green pastures Of the mortal existence
mplanting new thoughts, or rather
cultivating the germs of noble thought
that already exist in the human heart
This life is modest one, and possibly
does not create great comm otior
among it's fellows.
Along comes the human hog-bui
recently, perhaps, having broken into
the field of morality and respectable
ity-and rushes to the front, with
many cavortings and great noise
Those about it are expected to get ou
of the way or be trampled upon. A
the first sight Of the great, generous
trough of moral and intellectual
worth, the human hog dives in, heat
and feet, and rolls, splashes. scatters
and destroys. All others are held il
contempt, and the food for the tim,
becomes the sole property of the hu
man hog. ''How brilliant; how dash
ing; what a wonderful push and Ell
ergyT is the involuntary exclamation
of those beholding the advent of thi
rusher. 1t rises like "a meteor;" i
towers above its fellows as it Chamber
into the trough. But, after all, tn,
creature has only succeeded In smear
ing and splashing its fellows withou
accomplishing anything for itself
The lives that feed at the fountain O.
knowledge. imbibe the higher ideas o
courtesy, and depend upon tru'
worth for their standing before tn,
world. Such is the type of charactel
which builds for the future. Th,
thoughtful, earnest, courteous, sym
pathetic man, will live a life at tn,
close of which he can look backward
and say sin my mortal weakness
have made some mistakes, but | have
accomplished some good. In sorrow
for my errors | base my hope upor
the little good | have accomplished
and the better qualities Of this pool
heart of mine" The human hog lies
down in his wallow, at the close o1
life, and grunts Il have been the
neisiest creature in the field; I have
overridden and trampled my quiet
slow-going fellows; and by my energy
| have always been the first in the
trough; the good have accomplished
consists in having taught others theil
places, and compelled them to recog-
nize my brilliant qualities. -
You may say that such comparisons
are not proper, but, friends, the man
who paints picture Of human life
without placing some uf the human
hogs with feet in the trough, is not
true to nature, and to the facts.
We object to our Democratic friends
accuSiuu uS of havino anv batrod